Flash in the Pan

The saying, "Flash in the pan" is believed to have originated during the California Gold Rush of the mid 19th century. As prospectors panned for gold they became excited when they saw something flashing in the pan. However, their hope was soon turned to disappointment when it proved not to be gold but only a "flash in the pan." The phrase "Flash in the pan" is defined as "something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning."

What is it that you look for when searching for products that you desire to purchase. Something of good quality or flash. Interestingly enough market researchers still draw a blank as they continue to develop advertising  strategies for the consumer to purchase various products. There is a basic pattern that consumers tend to follow in the process of making a decision to purchase...

• Problem recognition: The consumer perceives that he has a want or need
• Information search: The consumer seeks information to help determine how this want or need might be met
• Alternative evaluation: Reasoning made by the consumer as to whether they will or will not purchase a particular product
• Purchase decision: The stage of the consumers buying process when the purchase decision is actually made
• Post-purchase behavior: The activities and experiences that follow a purchase

Although consumers may follow this pattern many variables still come into play. For instance, auto dealers say that the majority of people that are serious about making a purchase spend about 10 percent of their time considering all the features and about 90 percent of their time on appearance, especially the color. However, when the same individual make a decision on purchasing an appliance almost a complete opposite may apply. Why? individual interests, understanding and attitudes become a major factor.

The consumer must be interested in the product and that the product is relevant and able to meet their need. Once interest is in a products is established, the consumer must be able to understand why and how the product meets their need. Finally, the consumer must be persuaded that the product will meet or exceed their need which is to have a positive attitude towards the product. 

So when searching for the right educational toys to purchase, quality will always supersede flash. Consumers, especially parents and caregivers should avoid spending a lot of time on considering the flashy features of an educational toy and spend more time in researching the quality and benefits that will meet the needs of their child.  A little research will go a long way and will save consumers money in the long run. Remember, "something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning" is certainly not what any parent or caregiver would want for their child. 

Don't Stop Playing

How much time do you purposefully spend playing with your six month to six year old child? Believe it or not over the last two decades child's play has decreased 50%. However, years of research has shown that during early childhood stages of growth, children develop skills that they can only get through play. Early childhood play is also crucial to the phys­i­cal, intel­lec­tual, and social-emotional devel­op­ment at all ages, especially from six months to six years of age. 

The decline of early childhood play can be linked to the pressures that have been place on educators and parents mainly through policy makers that early academics will lead to a greater success in life. Although some studies conclude that some children may benefit from a greater diet of academics than play, it is not true in most cases. Some of the problems that research has discovered in the study of academia vs play is that the lack of self-initiated forms of play, imaginative play, the development of social skills and loving interactive play have actually resulted in a higher level anx­i­ety and neg­a­tive atti­tudes in chil­dren. Research also reveals that children who have had a large portion of play time removed from their daily schedule and have had it replaced with academic studies, in most incidences, show little to no advan­tages in read­ing and math achieve­ment over children who have a fair amount of daily play time.

Another thing to consider, play is motivated by pleasure not pressure and it cannot be legislated because it is a natural response that opens the door to early childhood development. This is where educational toys play a major role in both academic and play time for children. Educational toys provide a venue for children to expand their imagination, enhance their motor shills, increase their curiosity, stimulate their creativity, and promote learning while having fun. They also promote interaction between adults and children. Research shows that learning is enhanced when adults participate in daily play with children. 

As children play, their young minds are stimulated which encourages them to interact and explore the world around them. Their play is actually preparing them for future tasks and adulthood. Another benefit of introducing educational toys into a child's daily play time during their early years is that they can provide the stimulation and experiences that create a foundation of learning and growing.

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.
--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood